Another year of travel beckons – and it promises to be one of the most luxurious yet. UHNWs are spoilt for choice with hotly-anticipated launches from some of the biggest names in hospitality, and enticing offerings from independent names. But what are the hotel openings to know in 2024?
[See also: The best travel companies for HNWs in 2023]
After a bumper year that saw the arrival of two new billion-pound hotels – The Peninsula London and Raffles London at The OWO – London prepares to welcome another behemoth: Six Senses at The Whiteley. Elsewhere, the Mandarin Oriental’s long-awaited second London address opens its doors on Hanover Square. Just outside of the city, Beaverbrook extends its footprint with the opening of The Village at Beaverbrook.
For the jet-set, there are innumerable 2024 hotel openings overseas. A South African safari lodge, Costa Rican eco-retreat and two luxurious Greek resorts are among the highlights. In Sri Lanka, visitors to Kotiyagala Resort will be immersed in the natural beauty of the region. Outside of Florence, Collegio alla Querce, from the Auberge Resorts Collection, breathes new life into three 16th-century buildings.
Ultra-high-net-worth travellers might benefit from enlisting the expertise of a travel adviser from the 2023 Spear’s index.
Best hotel openings 2024: rest of the world
Best hotel openings 2024: UK
The Village at Beaverbrook, Surrey – January 2024
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Although The Village, the latest addition to the perennially popular Beaverbrook, technically opened its doors in December 2023, it won’t be until January (at the earliest) that most guests are able to visit. Nestled within the extensive woodlands of the estate, The Village at Beaverbrook has 21 guest rooms, housed across a collection of 10 former workers’ cottages, as well as a new restaurant, and an events space. Interior designer Nicola Harding has brought bursts of colour and patterned wallpapers, while creative director Sir Frank Lowe adds his signature whimsy and creative flair. A self-drive buggy gives guests access to the rest of the estate.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair – Spring 2024
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, sits on the historic Hanover Square, will be the chain’s long-anticipated second hotel in the city, following the Mandarin Oriental Knightsbridge. The 50-key room was designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners with interiors by Tokyo based studio Curiosity and UK based designers Studio Indigo. The Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will boast the first Akira Back restaurant in the UK from Michelin Star chef Akira Back, as well as his ‘ABar Lounge’ concept and rooftop terrace with views over the city skyline. There will also be an urban spa, focussed on renewal and recalibration with treatments and therapies by Seed to Skin, Swiss Perfection and OTO.
mandarinoriental.com/en/london/mayfair
The Emory, London – Early 2024
Maybourne Hotel Group, the leading name behind Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley, will introduce its fourth hotel to London: The Emory. Discreet, luxurious and contemporary, The Emory, designed by Champalimaud Design, will offer 60 suites over nine floors, and a penthouse designed by Rigby & Rigby. The spectacular rooftop, open to hotel guests only, will offer views over the city from its Knightsbridge location.
The Newman – Winter 2024
Sitting on its namesake Newman Street in Fitzrovia, The Newman is the first hotel from new international hospitality management company Kinsfolk & Co. The contemporary hotel will offer 81 rooms and suites, European brasserie, cocktail bar, and wellness floor. The hotel is designed by Pernille Lind and Richy Almond of Lind + Almond, known for creating spaces with an understated yet worldly eclecticism.
The Whiteley – 2024
This mega lifestyle, residential and hospitality club marks the £3 billion revival of Whiteley’s, a once grand department store in London’s Bayswater. Alongside the super-prime residences there will be the Six Senses hotel and spa – the brand’s debut in the city. The extraordinary 21,500 sq ft spa promises to be one of the most impressive in a city full of impressive hotels. Perhaps even the best. Lovers of luxury will be awaiting this opening in 2024.
Best hotel openings 2024: Rest of the world
One&Only One Za’abeel, Dubai – January 2024
An architectural marvel, One Za’abeel’s dual skyscrapers are dramatically intersected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link – a futuristic boulevard floating 100 metres above the street – which offers a choice of fine restaurants and lounges from global Michelin-lauded chefs, including Anne-Sophie Pic, Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones, Mehmet Gürs, Paco Morales and Tetusya Wakuda. The hotel will also boast a ‘spa clinic’, fitness hub and Jean-Michel Gathy interiors inspired by the ‘white sands’ of the natural landscape.
Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs, Paris – January 2024
‘Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs’, is a 138-bedroom lifestyle hotel located on Rue Vaugirard in the chic 6th Arrondissement, steps from the St Germain area on the Left Bank of Paris.Inspired by the golden age of travel, internationally renowned Fabrizio Casiraghi has designed a hotel that feels like stepping into the home of a quietly talented art collector. Every touch point has a story to tell, from the golden stars that sprinkle the carpet to the four lesser known pieces by Gustav Klimt. At the hotel’s heart sits Grands Voyageurs, a vibrant transatlantic brasserie, combining French and American influences with a seafood-focused menu. Guests are also invited downstairs into Poppy, ‘a clandestine den bar for encounter, illicit and otherwise…’ for cocktails late into the night.
Lepogo Lodges – Melote House, South Africa
Lepogo Lodges, an entirely not-for-profit safari lodge in the heart of the Limpopo Province, has unveiled its second property, Melote House – a brand new exclusive-use safari lodge, sleeping 16. Joining the brand’s well-established Noka Camp, Melote House has officially opened its doors within the same South African reserve. The property is a private oasis of luxury, in an enviable off-the-grid setting embracing nature’s elegance. Melote House is inspired by the rock formations of the Waterberg region and has sustainability at its core, built in tiers on the side of the hill to maximise the magnificent views over the Lapalala Wilderness. Encompassing 50,000 hectares of pristine terrain, Lepogo Lodges’ vision is to create an enduring legacy of sustainability and conservation excellence that will echo through time.
The Lana, Dubai – February 2024
The Lana, The Dorchester’s first address in the Middle East, is a haven of culinary delights. Michelin-starred chefs Martin Berasategui and Jean Imbert, and renowned pastry chef Angelo Musa will be all be launching their first ventures in Dubai in partnership with the hotel. Four other outlets will be operated by the property’s culinary team, led by executive chef Oliver Jackson. There will be 225 rooms and suites, alongside the Lana Residences.
Kotiyagala Resort, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka – March 2024
The designers of Kotiyagala Resort have minimised the impact on Yala National Park by raising the villas, allowing for flora and fauna to continue to thrive below. Each individual suite boasts a private swimming pool and is located on a personal slice of a lush seven-acre estate. Guests have the opportunity to glimpse elephants, leopards, sloths and crocodiles in their natural environment.
Janu Tokyo, Japan – March 2024
Aman’s sibling brand Janu is set to open its first hotel, Janu Tokyo, in March 2024. Translated as ‘soul’ in Sanskrit, Janu promises deliver an elevated guest experience akin to Aman, while providing a spirited social scene in contrast to Aman’s whisper-quiet seclusion. Set in Tokyo’s much anticipated ‘Modern Urban Village’, Azabudai Hills, Janu Tokyo will feature 122 spacious guest rooms and one of the largest wellness facilities in the city.
Voaara, Madagascar – May 2024
This barefoot luxury resort on the island of Sainte-Marie, off the northeast coast of Madagascar, Voaara promises breathtaking water and wildlife in an unspoiled Indian Ocean paradise. There will initially be just eight bungalows and one three-bedroom villa, before growing to a 45-key resort through a phased launch. The concept comes from Phillippe Kjellgren, together with hospitality investors Benjamin Habbel and Jeff Coe of LimeStone Capital. It promises exclusive, elevated luxury in one of the most desirable corners of the world.
Santo Mine Oia Suites, Santorini, Greece – April 2024
An all-suite luxury hideaway carved into the cliffs of Oia, Santo Mine offers breathtaking views over the Aegean Sea. Each of the 37 suites boasts a private pool or hotub and has interiors inspired by the rugged landscape and calming earth tones. The design draws on natural materials including stone, ceramics, wood, marble, and copper.
Our Habitas Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – Spring 2024
Embracing the laid-back, surfer character of Santa Teresa, this environmentally-conscious addition to Costa Rica’s flourishing ‘conscious tourism’ scene is the hotel group’s first opening in the country. Boasting 45 ‘low-impact’ rooms inspired by the natural world and 10 luxury tents, the accommodation is dotted across the verdant landscape and nestled between palm trees.
ROMEO Roma, Italy – Early 2024
In early 2024, The ROMEO Collection will launch its second project, ROMEO Roma. Situated just steps away from Piazza del Popolo in Rome’s city centre, ROMEO Roma is one of the last projects from world-renowned Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid. Local materials have been used throughout, including Italian marble and sustainably-sourced wood, and in an effort to integrate the building’s natural beauty, guest suites will feature ancient restored frescoes. Housed in a historic palazzo dating back to the late 16th century, the 74-key hotel will be among the most spacious in the city, boasting magnificent views of the rooftops and Piazza del Popolo. There will be a restaurant overseen by Alain Ducasse, a Neapolitan-inspired bistro, an open-air 22,000sq ft courtyard with indoor and outdoor pools, a rooftop lounge and bar, and a wellness centre by Sisley Paris.
Villa Il Santo, Chianti, Tuscany – May 2024
The newest property to join The Collins Collection portfolio is Villa Il Santo, a charming seven-bedroom villa that is the epitome of rustic Italian luxury. Comprising two historic buildings – an old watch tower and hay barn – this countryside getaway is steeped in character. The property has been beautifully restored by British owners Jane and Steven Collins – known for their most recent project, Henry’s Townhouse in London. Outside, there is a pool while the the gardens offer traditional Tuscan displays of roses, jasmine and olive trees, thoughtfully landscaped over terraced levels. Nearby there are vineyards and wine tasting, beekeeping tours and honey tasting, local markets and hot air balloon rides.
Gundari, Folegandros, Greece – May 2024
Selected by Spear’s digital director Stephanie Bridger-Linning as her most anticipated hotel opening of 2024, Gundari promises to bring rugged, bare-foot luxury to travellers seeking to escape the tourists on some of Greece’s more popular islands. Although it might not have the infrastructure and nightlife of its neighbour Santorini, Folegandros boasts breathtaking natural beauty and inviting water.
The resort boasts 27 suites and villas, a cliff-edge swimming pool, organic farm, subterranean spa and restaurants designed by globally renowned chef, Lefteris Lazarou (Greece’s very first Michelin star chef).
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, Seychelles – Summer 2024
Guests of Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island will be treated to 50 seafront villas, all with private pools and personal concierges. There will be six restaurants and bars, a spa, and activities including snorkelling and fly fishing. The natural beauty of the island is sublime: the resort is surrounded by untouched palm forests, with seabirds and turtles, eagle rays, manta rays and whale sharks as neighbours, the resort promises to be a magical experience for guests.
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, Florence, Italy – Summer 2024
Comprising three 16th-century buildings, including a chapel, theatre and school, Collegio alla Querce boasts 81 rooms including 20 suites. From the Baroque gardens, guests can enjoy views of Florence. On the other side of the estate, there is a view of Chianti vineyards in Tuscany. A luxury Florentine retreat steeped in historical charm.
Cheval Blanc, the Seychelles – Q4 2024
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, Cheval Blanc’s new Maison will have 52 villas each with a private pool, a Guerlain spa, a majestic sculpture ‘Centauresse’ by Prune Nourry, art works by Madagascan artist Joël Andrianomearisoa and five restaurants including mediterranean beach club Sula, French fine dining at Le White and Asian cuisine at Mizumi.
The Homestead, Nambiti Private Game Reserve, South Africa – Q4 2024
The Homestead, a 12-suite eco-conscious, ultra-luxury lodge, will open on the Nambiti reserve in South Africa. The Homestead will be the last safari lodge on Nambiti for conservation reasons and almost silent, upcycled electric 4x4s allow guests to get much closer to the animals. In addition to awe-inspiring game drives, The Homestead promises experiences including animal photography classes, battlefield visits, hiking through the Drakensberg, stargazing, camping, and taking part in sustainable initiatives.
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Thailand – 2024
Aman will open a new address in Bangkok, featuring a 52-suite hotel and 33 Aman Residences, ranging from premium one-bedroom units to penthouses. The property, designed by Jean Michel Gathy of Denniston, will be nestled in the historic Nai Lert Park in the heart of the bustling South East Asian city. Fans of the hotel chain will also be thrilled to learn this new opening will feature an Aman Club, which launched its first outpost at Aman New York in 2023.
